Forensic Sci., Volume 5, Issue 3 (September 2025) – 2 articles

In forensic sciences, particularly in forensic anthropology and podiatry, assessing a person’s stature helps create a biological profile that allows for more accurate identification. Background/Objectives: When considering dynamic footprints as part of the gait pattern, certain parameters such as stride length, step length, gait width, and gait angle can be evaluated in relation to stature. The aim of this study was to assess footstep and stride length from the gait of dynamic footprints and determine if they correlate with stature and could be useful for biological profiling. Methods: Gait patterns from dynamic footprints and stature were determined in 114 females and 104 males aged 18 to 33 years. Results: All participants took the first step with their preferred foot, 56% with the right foot. Regarding step sequence, there were non-significant differences between the 4th and 5th footsteps in both sexes. Sex differences were significant in four of seven footsteps. Only a few steps significantly correlated in sequence with stature, and even these had low correlation coefficients (r = 0.295). In females, positive values of mean differences between actual and estimated stature predictions indicate that the equations tend to overestimate, whereas in a mixed sex group, most negative values of mean differences indicate underestimation. Conclusions: Given the weak correlations observed, footstep and stride length should not be considered reliable indicators for forensic stature estimation. These parameters are more suitable for biomechanical and anthropological research, while forensic applications should be considered supplementary and interpreted with caution. Full article

Background/Objectives: Over the past few decades, controlled substance abuse in drug-facilitated sexual assaults (DFSAs) has significantly increased worldwide, leading to an urgency to develop rapid and selective drug detection methods for field use (i.e., on-spot detection). Currently, techniques for detecting DFSA drug-associated samples are laborious and require skilled personnel to analyze/interpret the results. Moreover, most DFSA-associated drugs have a short half-life, making them more challenging to detect promptly. For instance, the timely detection of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) has been of ultimate concern for decades due to its fast elimination from the body. This study describes the development of a fluorescent ionic liquid nanosensor that can be used to rapidly detect GHB in the field. Methods: Trihexyltetradecylphosphonium fluorescein (THP₂FL) ionic liquid was synthesized and evaluated for its potential application in detecting GHB. THP₂FL nanoparticles in deionized water were synthesized with a size of 199 nm by a reprecipitation method. Results: The addition of GHB to THP₂FL nanoparticles resulted in up to a 60% increase in fluorescence intensity and a 79% increase in absorbance. These results suggest potential applications for using the fluorescent THP₂FL nanoparticles to detect GHB. The sensor’s selectivity was tested on compounds structurally similar to GHB, and the results showed that 1,4-butanediol (a precursor of GHB) is a potentially interfering species. Conclusion: This fluorescent technique allows for field deployable sensors, which would benefit screening GHB onsite. Full article